Picture Frame Fixings

ABSTRACT

A picture frame fixing for use in conjunction with a fastener having a shank and an enlarged head, the fixing having therein a keyhole-shaped slot comprising a large diameter portion dimensioned to permit passage therethrough of the head of the associated fastener, a narrower portion dimensioned to receive the shank of the fastener but narrower than the head of the fastener, and, intermediate the enlarged and narrower portions of the slot a narrow neck region the width of which is less than the corresponding dimension of the shank of the associated fastener such that during relative movement of the fixing and the fastener resilient deformation permits the shank to pass through the narrow neck to achieve a snap-fit in said narrower portion of said keyhole-shaped slot.

This invention relates to picture frame fixings, to such fixings incombination with a fastener, and to picture frames incorporating suchfixings.

The term “picture frame” is used herein in a broad sense to embracewithin it framing arrangements for art materials, mirrors, calendars andthe like. Moreover, within the term “picture frame” it is intended toembrace arrangements where there is a peripheral frame, for example arectangular frame, within which art materials, mirror or the like isreceived, and those arrangements where there is a backing board, with orwithout a peripheral frame and upon which the art materials, mirror orthe like is supported.

The term “picture frame fixings” is also intended to be construedbroadly, to include a wide variety of fixings, primarily formed fromsheet metal, sheet metal and wire, or moulded or stamped plasticsmaterials, the majority of which are to be attached to a backing board,or a peripheral frame. Such fixings include hangers, spring clips,framing clips, easel backs, V-spring clips and the like. There is a widevariety of known picture frame fixings which are secured to a peripheralframe or the backing board of a picture frame by means of a fastener inthe form of a rivet, screw or nail or the like, secured to the backingboard or peripheral frame and having a shank of a first diameterprotruding from the backing board or frame, the shank terminating in anenlarged head spaced from the backing board or the frame by theprotruding part of the shank. The fixings of known form have akeyhole-shaped slot in the material of the fixing which is attached tothe backing board or frame by introducing the enlarged head of thefastening through the large portion of the keyhole-shaped slot and thenmoving the fixing laterally with respect to the fastening so that theshank of the fastening is seated within the narrower portion of thekeyhole-shaped slot and the head of the fastening overlies the materialof the fixing bordering the narrower portion of the keyhole-shaped slot.

A well understood problem with conventional “key-hole slot” fixings isthat they may be attached to their respective fastener at an early stagein the assembly of the picture frame and the partly assembled pictureframe may then need to be transported for subsequent operations. Unlessextreme care is taken during the transport of the partially assembledpicture frame the fixing may slide relative to its fastener and becomedetached as the head of the fastener passes through the large portion ofthe keyhole-shaped slot in the fixing. Such disengagement with theattendant risk of loss of one or more fixings is also present whenpicture frames are subsequently stored and handled in a retailenvironment. It is an object of the present invention to provide afixing wherein this disadvantage is minimised or obviated.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a pictureframe fixing for use in conjunction with a fastener having a shank andan enlarged head, the fixing having therein a keyhole-shaped slotcomprising a large diameter portion dimensioned to permit passagetherethrough of the head of the associated fastener, a narrower portiondimensioned to receive the shank of the fastener but narrower than thehead of the fastener, and, intermediate the enlarged and narrowerportions of the slot a narrow neck region the width of which is lessthan the corresponding dimension of the shank of the associated fastenersuch that during relative movement of the fixing and the fastenerresilient deformation permits the shank to pass through the narrow neckto achieve a snap-fit in said narrower portion of said keyhole-shapedslot.

Conveniently said neck region of said slot is bounded by one or moreelements integral with the material of the fixing, and moveable relativethereto, by resilient flexure of the element.

Preferably the or each element is in the form of a resilient finger.

The invention further resides in a fixing as defined above incombination with a fastener having a shank and an enlarged head.

Conveniently said fastener is a hollow tubular rivet having said headdefined by a flange at one end thereof.

Alternatively said fastener is a screw having a threaded shank region, aplain shank region, and a head of larger diameter than the plain shankregion.

Conveniently said plain shank region is of larger diameter than saidthreaded shank region.

Conveniently said plain shank region has a circumferential groove forreceiving said fixing.

Alternatively said fastener includes a washer which abuts the end of theplain shank region and defines with said head, a circumferential groovefor receiving said fixing.

The invention further resides in a picture frame incorporating thecombination of a fixing and a fastener as defined above.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic rear elevational view of a picture frame andshowing three different types of picture frame fixing in accordance withone example of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the picture frame of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlargement of part of the fixings illustrated in FIGS. 1and 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to part of FIG. 1 of a modification thereof;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a further form of fixing in accordance withsaid one example of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the fixing of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a screw fastener for use with anyof the fixings;

FIGS. 8 and 8A are side and end views respectively of further form ofscrew fastener;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 of a still further form of screwfastener;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the fixing of FIGS. 22 and 23;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but to an enlarged scale, of afurther alternative fixing in accordance with said one example of theinvention;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are front and side elevational views respectively of afurther form of fixing in accordance with said one example of theinvention;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 11 of a still further form of fixingin accordance with said one example of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating a further form offixing in accordance with a second example of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating fixings similar to FIG.1 but in accordance with the second example of the invention;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a further fixing in accordance with the secondexample of the invention;

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the fixing of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 16 of a further form of fixing inaccordance with the second example of the invention;

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of the fixing of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a plan view of a further fixing in accordance with saidsecond example of the invention;

FIG. 21 is a side elevational view of the fixing of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a further form offixing in accordance with said second example of the invention and analternative form of fastener for use with the fixing; and;

FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 22 illustrating a different form offastener in accordance with said second example of the invention;

Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1shows a picture frame 11 which consists of a rectangular peripheralframe member 12 receiving a rectangular backing board 13. In use, aswill be well understood by those skilled in the art, a rectangular sheetof glass may be inserted into the frame member 12 to seat against aperipheral, inwardly extending, lip of the frame member 12, and artmaterial or the like can be sandwiched between the glass and therectangular backing board 13 so as to be visible through the glass.However, in some applications the glass may be omitted or a mirror maybe substituted for the glass and the art material. In some applicationsthe picture frame lacks the peripheral frame member 12, and artmaterial, mirror or the like is fixed directly to the backing board 13.As will be described hereinafter FIGS. 10, 22 and 23 illustrate how thismay be accomplished. However, the exact form of the picture frame is notof critical importance to the present invention as will become clearhereinafter.

In FIG. 1 three different types of fixing are illustrated. However theremaining drawings show a wide variety of fixings and it is to berecognised that all of the fixings disclosed herein are formed primarilyfrom sheet metal as a pressing or stamping operation. The invention isnot however restricted to such fixings.

In FIG. 1 there is illustrated a pair of turn clips 14, a pair ofhangers 15 and an easel back 16. Each of the fixings 14, 15, 16 issecured to the picture frame, either to the backing board 13 or theperipheral frame member 12, by one or more fasteners 17 in the form of ahollow, cylindrical, metal rivet having a shank 18 projecting rearwardlyfrom the picture frame. The outer end of the projecting shank is rolledover outwardly to define a peripheral flange 19 constituting an enlargedhead at the free, projecting end of the rivet. Such rivets will be wellknown to those skilled in the art, as will be the method of fixing ofthe rivet to the backing board or peripheral frame member of the pictureframe. In FIGS. 22 and 23, and also in FIG. 2, it is shown that therivet can either pass through the backing board to be spread outwardlyon the inner face of the backing board to lock the rivet to the backingboard, or alternatively the rivet can incorporate integral prongs whichspread outwardly, in the form of a rosette (FIG. 23), to lock the end ofthe rivet within the material of the backing board 13 or peripheralframe member 12. Each fixing 14, 15, 16 includes a planar region havingtherein a keyhole-shaped slot 21 (see FIG. 3). As is customary, eachkeyhole slot 21 includes a first part circular portion 22 of arelatively large diameter, and extending therefrom a portion 23 which iselongate, and which has a part circular end wall at its end remote fromthe portion 22. The width of the portion 23 is less than the diameter ofthe portion 22. In relation to the fastener 17 with which the fixing isto be utilised, the diameter of the portion 22 is slightly larger thanthe diameter of the head 19 of the fastener 17 and the width of theportion 23 of the slot 21 is slightly larger than the diameter of theshank 18 of the fastener 17 but less than the diameter of the head 19 ofthe fastener. However, in accordance with the present invention there isprovided intermediate the portions 22 and 23, a neck region 24 the widthof which is less than the width of the elongate region 23, and less thanthe diameter of the shank 18 of the fastener.

In use the fixing can be attached to a respective fastener projectingfrom the picture frame by engaging the fixing over the fastener suchthat the head 19 of the fastener passes through the portion 22 of theslot 21, and then sliding the fixing at right angles to the length ofthe fastener 17 to cause the shank 18 of the fastener 17 to enter theportion 23 of the slot 21. It will be understood that when the shank 18of the fastener 17 lies within the portion 23 of the slot 21 then thefixing cannot be lifted from the fastener 17 since the head 19 cannotpass through the portion 23 of the slot 21.

However, in order for the shank 18 to reach the portion 23 of the slot21 from the portion 22, it is necessary for the shank 18 to pass throughthe narrow neck region 24. Because the width of the neck region 24 isless than the outer diameter of the shank 18 of the fastener 17 someresilient deformation of the material of the fixing is needed. Thusimmediately after the shank 18 passes beyond the region 24 into theportion 23 the deformation of the fixing restores back to its originalcondition so that the shank 18 enters the portion 23 of the slot 21 as asnap-fit. Thereafter inadvertent disengagement of the fixing from thefastener 17 cannot readily occur. The fixing cannot lift axially fromthe fastening 17 because it is impeded by the head 19, and lateralmovement of the fixing relative to the shank 18 to permit the head 19 toalign with the portion 22 of the slot 21 is impeded by the neck region24. Thus although the fixing can rotate freely about the axis of thefastening 17 if desired, inadvertent detachment of the fixing from thefastener 17 is resisted.

The fixing 14 illustrated in FIG. 1 can be turned from the positionshown, through over 90°, to release the backing board 13 from theperipheral frame member 12. It will be understood that if desired thefixing 14 could be attached by a fastener 17 to the backing board ratherthan to the peripheral frame member 12. In such an arrangement thefixing 14 would be rotated about its fastener 17 to engage theperipheral frame member 12. Desirably the free end of the fixing 14 willhave a protrusion which bears against the backing board 13 (or the framemember 12) to resist inadvertent rotation of the fixing about itsrespective fastener.

The fixings 15 are hanging brackets, and have an aperture 25 shaped toprovide a number of hanging positions. The easel back 16 is secured inplace by two fasteners 17 and is pierced across its width at 26 to allowit to be bent to lie at an angle to the backing board 13 to form a propas shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 illustrates a modification of the easel backof FIG. 1 in which the metal component is of reduced length, but isriveted, by means of integral rivets 27 to an elongate limb 28 which canbe formed from backing board material.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an alternative form of hanger 29 which can beused, if desired, in place of the hanger 15 of FIG. 1. It can be seenthat the hanger 29 has a triangular aperture 31 and is bent intermediatethe aperture 31 and the keyhole-shaped aperture 21.

FIG. 7 illustrates a screw fastener which may be used in place of therivet type fasteners 17. It can be seen that the screw fastener 32 has athreaded shank 33 to be screwed into the backing board, or the materialof the peripheral frame member 12, an integral, plain cylindrical shankregion 34 desirably but not essentially of larger diameter than thethreaded region 33 and coextensive therewith, and a cylindrical head 35slotted to receive a screwdriver, and having an outer diameter greaterthan the outer diameter of the region 34. In use the screw fastener 32is screwed into the material of the picture frame until the screwthreaded region 33 is buried, and the junction of the screw threadedregion 33 and the plain cylindrical region 34 seats against the rearface of the picture frame. Thereafter, a fixing can be attached to thefastener 32 exactly as described above, with the portion 22 of thekeyhole-shaped slot 21 passing over the head 35, and the fixing thenbeing moved laterally to snap the plain cylindrical region 34 into theportion 23 of the slot 21.

FIG. 8 illustrates a modification of the arrangement in FIG. 7 in whicha metal washer 34 is trapped in use between the junction of the regions33 and 34 of the shank and the backing board or the like to provide acircumferential groove 34 b in which the fixing slides to its snap fitposition. As shown in FIG. 8A the head 35 of the screw can have acombined slot, cross-head and square drive formation for receiving arange of driving tools. FIG. 9 illustrates a screw similar to that ofFIG. 8 but in effect having the washer 34 a integral therewith by havingan increased diameter region 34 formed with a circumferential groove 34b which separates the head 35 from an integral outwardly extendingperipheral flange 34 a. In the arrangements of FIGS. 8 and 9 the widthof the groove 34 b is greater than the thickness of the material of theassociated fixing ensuring that there is sufficient clearance to engagethe fixing with the fastener without binding.

FIG. 11 illustrates a further alternative fixing 41 which is a furtherform of hanger, particularly suitable for anchoring one end of a hangingcord or the like of the picture frame. Again the fixing includes agenerally planar sheet metal portion having a keyhole-shaped aperture 21therein for snap-fit association with a respective fastener 17, 32, thefixing 41 being bent to form a tubular region receiving one side of atriangular wire ring 42.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are plan and side views respectively of a further formof hanger 42 again formed with a keyhole-shaped slot 21 for cooperationwith a respective fastener, and having at its end removed from the slot21, a circular aperture 43 which has been formed by a plunging operationdefining a thickened circular flange 44 on one face of the fixing 42.

FIG. 13 illustrates yet a further form of hanger 45 similar to thehanger 15 of FIG. 1 in that it has the keyhole-shaped slot 21 forassociation with a fastener 17 or 32, and has, adjacent its oppositeend, an aperture 46 similar to the aperture 25 of the hanger 15 having aserated edge to provide a plurality of alternative hanging points.However, intermediate the aperture 46 and the slot 21 the hanger 45 hasa transversely extending row of apertures 47 to provide a line alongwhich the hanger 45 can readily be bent so that the region of the hanger45 containing the aperture 46 extends at an angle to the remainder ofthe hanger. In the example described, the material would generally notbe heat treated in order to provide the resilience at the neck region24.

FIGS. 14 to 23 illustrate hangers in accordance with a second example ofthe invention, and FIG. 14 illustrates the shaping of an aperture 51 forsnap engagement with a fastener 17 or 32. Thus referring to FIG. 14 itcan be seen that the fixing 50 is formed with a keyhole-shaped slot 51having a part circular portion 52 and extending therefrom an elongateportion 53 having a part circular end wall. As with the slot 21described above the portion 52 is of a diameter able to accepttherethrough the head of the respective fastener, and the width of theportion 53 is less than the diameter of the portion 52 so as to be ableto accommodate the shank of the fastener but not to allow the head ofthe fastener to pass therethrough.

Intermediate the portions 52 and 53 of the slot 51, the slot is formedwith a narrow neck region 54 the width of which is less than thediameter of the shank of the associated fastener. However, it can beseen that the narrow neck region 54 of the fixing 50 is defined byinwardly curved regions of respective parallel fingers 55 integral withthe remainder of the fixing 50, but separated therefrom by elongate slotregions 56 extending from the slot 51. It can be seen that the edges ofthe fingers 55 which border the slot 51 define part of the wall of theportion 53 of the slot 51 and the fingers have enlarged, part circular,free end regions 57 the inwardly presented surfaces of which define thenarrow neck region 54 of the slot 51.

It is to be understood that the slot 51 of the fixing 50 functions in anextremely similar manner to the slot 21 described above. However,whereas distortion of the material of the body of the fixing around theneck region 24 of the slot 21 is required for the slot 21 to function,the slot 51 of the fixing 50 cooperates with its respective fastener toprovide the snap-action as the shank of the fastener moves from theportion 52 into the portion 53 of the slot, by flexure of the fingers55. It is believed that the slot arrangement 51 illustrated in FIG. 14can achieve a more reliable, and repeatable snap-action since there isless risk of the material of the fixing and/or the fastener beingdamaged during the snap-action. In one embodiment the fixing 50 is ofsteel which may be hardened (heat treated) to enhance the spring effectof the fingers 55. In another embodiment, the fixing 50 may be formedfrom an alloy having physical properties such that it does not requirehardening to enhance the spring effect of the fingers 55.

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating fixings similar tothe fixings 14, 15, 16 provided with slots 51 rather than 21. Thesefixings are identified in FIG. 15 as 14 a, 15 a, 16 a respectively. Themultipoint hanging apertures of the brackets 15 a are shown in FIG. 15as 25 a. The easel back 16 a of FIG. 15 has a leg 28 secured thereto byrivets integral with the fixings 16 a or similar fastening devices.

FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate a still further form of fixing 58 which hasan aperture 51 as shown in FIG. 14, and a multipoint hanging aperture 46similar to that of the fixing 45 of FIG. 13. The fixing 58 is bentintermediate its ends so that the region of the fixing 58 which has theaperture 46 is inclined away from the backing board 13 and defines anelongate spring strip in use. The free end of the fixing 58 hassharpened upstanding points 59 which can, by virtue of flexure of theinclined portion of the fixing 58 towards the backing board 13, belatched underneath a lip of a peripheral frame member 12 to assist insecuring the backing board 13 to the frame member 12.

FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate a fixing 61 secured to a backing board 13 bymeans of a fastener 17 and a keyhole-shaped slot 51, the fixing 61 beingin the form of a V-shaped spring steel clip one limb of which has theslot 51, and the other limb of which is formed with a hooked end region62 for engagement underneath a lip of a peripheral frame member 12 so asto press the backing board into the frame member and to secure thebacking board thereto. In a modification the hooked region 62 isreplaced by a straight projection which engages in a slot in theperipheral frame member.

FIGS. 20 and 21 illustrate a further form of fixing 63 comprising amultipoint hanger. The fixing 63 comprises first and second integral,coplanar portions 63 a, 63 b which are spaced apart from one another byan integral, inclined, intermediate portion 63 c. The portion 63 a abutsthe backing board 13 of a picture frame and is secured thereto by meansof two fasteners 17 each engaging a respective slot 51 in the portion 63a. The portion 63 b which stands away from, but parallel to, the backingboard 13 has an aperture 64 one edge of which is serated to provide aplurality of spaced apart recesses for receiving a hanging hook, nail orthe like in use.

FIGS. 22, 23 and 10 illustrate a picture frame in which there is noperipheral frame member 12. The backing board 13 has a glass plate 36clipped thereto by means of fixings 37. Art material 38 and a backingsheet 39 may be trapped between the glass plate 36 and the backing board13. A plurality of fixings 37 will be attached by means of fasteners 17at spaced locations around the periphery of the backing board 13, andeach fixing 37 is attached to its fastener 17 (or 32) as described aboveby way of a keyhole-shaped slot 51 in the fixing cooperating as asnap-fit with the shank 18 (or 34) of the respective fastener 17 (or32). Furthermore, each fixing 37 includes a U-shaped spring clip 40embracing the edge region of the picture frame, and having a first limbbearing against the rear face of the backing board 13 and a second,generally parallel limb, bearing against the front face of the glassplate 36. The spring clips 40 thus press the glass plate 36 the artmaterial 38 and the backing sheet 39, against the backing board 13, andserve also to restrict lateral movement of the glass plate, the artmaterial 38 and the backing sheet 39 in their respective planes.

It is to be recognised that the exact nature of the fixing is not ofcrucial importance to the present invention, and the slots 21 and 51 canbe utilised with a wide variety of different fixings known in thepicture framing art. Furthermore, each of the fixings illustrated anddescribed herein can have either a slot 21 or a slot 51 and each can beused with a variety of different fasteners 17, 32.

The material of the fixing can be hardened and/or tempered if desired,for example locally in the area of neck region 24, 54. Whereas a steelfixing having the slot form shown at 21 will usually not be hardened,steel fixings having the slot form 51 may be hardened or otherwise heattreated to enhance the spring qualities of the fingers 55.Alternatively, fixings having the slot form 51 may be formed from analloy having physical properties such that it does not require hardeningor heat treatment to enhance the spring qualities of the fingers 55.

In a modification the fingers 55, joined at one end to the material ofthe remainder of the fixing may be replaced by bowed elements integralwith the remainder of the fixing at both ends, and being defined bypierced slots alongside the slot 51.

While the invention has been described above in relation to the use ofrivets or screws as the fastener it is to be understood that thefastener could take other forms such as a nail or the like. Moreover anail could have a head and parallel integral flange defining betweenthem a circumferential groove as described above with reference to FIG.9.

1. A picture frame fixing for use in conjunction with a fastener havinga shank and an enlarged head, the fixing having therein a keyhole-shapedslot comprising a large diameter portion dimensioned to permit passagetherethrough of the head of the associated fastener, a narrower portiondimensioned to receive the shank of the fastener but narrower than thehead of the fastener, and, intermediate the enlarged and narrowerportions of the slot a narrow neck region the width of which is lessthan the corresponding dimension of the shank of the associated fastenersuch that during relative movement of the fixing and the fastenerresilient deformation permits the shank to pass through the narrow neckto achieve a snap-fit in said narrower portion of said keyhole-shapedslot.
 2. A picture frame fixing according to claim 1 wherein said neckregion of said slot is bounded by one or more elements integral with thematerial of the fixing, and moveable relative thereto, by resilientflexure of the element.
 3. A picture frame fixing according to claim 2wherein the or each element is in the form of a resilient finger. 4.Apparatus comprising a picture frame fixing according to claim 1 incombination with a fastener having a shank and an enlarged head. 5.Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said fastener is a hollow tubularrivet having said head defined by a flange at one end thereof. 6.Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said fastener is a screw having athreaded shank region, a plain shank region, and a head of largerdiameter than the plain shank region.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6wherein said plain shank region is of larger diameter than said threadedshank region.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said plain shankregion has a circumferential groove for receiving said fixing. 9.Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said fastener includes a washerwhich abuts the end of the plain shank region and defines with saidhead, a circumferential groove for receiving said fixing.
 10. A pictureframe including a picture frame fixing according to claim
 1. 11. Apicture frame including an apparatus according to claim 4.